Republican candidate for governor of New York, Carl Paladino, appears to be disoriented in his views on same sex orientation.

The conservative Catholic candidate first spewed an ocean of homophobic comments on Sunday while campaigning in Brooklyn, and when challenged for his controversial comments defended them for two days, before surrendering with a series of fervid apologies to the gay and lesbian community with a statement that countered his earlier rants.

Among the countless individuals insulted by Paladino’s discriminatory remarks, was the candidate’s gay nephew, Jeff Hannon, who was less than thrilled by his uncle’s homofaux-pas.

Hannon, who is openly gay and has been working as a staffer for the campaign, has acted as Paladino’s proof that the politician does not harbor homophobic views.

However, as a result of his public attack on homosexuality, Paladino may have just lost his young gay-ccessory, as the SUNY-Buffalo graduate has not returned to the campaign headquarters since the incident on Sunday.

Paladino began to dig his holy hole when addressing a congregation of Orthodox Jews in Williamsburg and Borough Park, both of which are traditionally conservative Jewish neighborhoods.

At one point Paladino stated he didn’t want “children brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is acceptable.” Strike one.

He later stated that those who marry individuals of the opposite sex would be “much better off and much more successful.” Strike two.

In case there was one homosexual or moderately liberal person out there who had not already turned the nearest pillow into a Paladino punching bag, he ensured the loss of their vote with the written statement, “There is nothing to be proud of in being a dysfunctional homosexual.” Though boldfaced biggotry is evidently a foolproof plan to earn people’s respect.

This last statement was not actually uttered aloud, but was in the prepared text of his speech, which neither Paladino nor his campaign manager, Michael Caputo, are willing to take responsibility for, which is perhaps the first recent sign of sanity in the 2010 candidate.

Paladino is certainly not the first public figure guilty of making prejudiced statements, but politicians racing for votes are not allotted the same margin of error as idiosyncratic, volatile celebrities.

When Michael Richards’ mouth became a poisonous fountain of racist remarks, he countered the charges with the defense that he was emotionally riled from the hecklers. At least Mel Gibson had the deftness of mind to claim he was diabolically drunk when spouting his notorious tirade of anti-semetic comments.

And in New York City, mental instability and public innebriation are far more forgivable transgressions than candid discrimination.

When Hannon was approached with more questions regarding his Uncle’s behavior, he replied “no further comments right now.” At least someone in the family knows when to stop talking.